Self-cleaning spark plug



Aug. M, 11923. www@ F. E. GLAZE SELF CLEANING SPARK PLUG Original Filed May 9, 1919 @J Haze n fouling of the porcelain and the ad'acent parts. As the air is drawn throu Athe aperture 14 in the bame plate 13, t e air current will clean the electrodes 21 and 15.

As soon as suction is relieved within the cn gine, the sprin 36 will restore the valve 27 to its seat an as a result no compression whatever will be lost in restoring the valve, as would be the case if no spring or similar means were used. When the engine is doing considerable work and the throttle is wide open, or nearly so, the suction in the cylinder will be relieved through the carbureter to such an extent that it will not be able to ,withdraw the valve from its seat against the tension of its spring 36 until the speed of the engine has picked up and again created an excess of suction. Therefore, in such cases, where it is desired to havea very .rich mixture, there will be no possibility of diluting this mixture with air drawn throu l-i the plug at a time when it is undesirab e.. It will, therefore, be seen that air is admitted through the plug only when it is desirable.

When priming is necessary, a small quantity of priming Huid, such as ether'or gasolne, will be poured into the priming cu 35. When the engine is started, the first suction stroke will draw this priming fluid down through the plug and past the electrodes 15 and 21, bringing it directly to the point where ignition takes place, the air following the charge during successive strokes, cleaning out the chamber 23.

I claim: p

1. A spark plug having a chamber at its inner extremity, an electrode whose inner portion passes through said chamber, the electrode having a cavity intermediateits extremities, which cavity communicates with the atmosphere by a central longitudinal passage and with the upper portion ofy saidv chamber by ducts, a stem movable '1n-the longitudinal passage of the electrode and having a valve adapted to seat in the upper portion of said cavity, and yieldable means` for normally holding the valve in the seated position. n I

2. A spark plug having an electrode whose lower art is spaced from the adjacent portion o the insulating member, 'the said elec: trode having a chamber intermediate "itsf extremities, said chamber being in communi-` cation with the atmosphere by a longitudinal assage and with the' upper portion of saicl3 space b ducts, and a stem movable in said longitii inal passage of the electrode and having a valve normally seated in the upper portion of said electrode chamber.

3. A spark plug having an electrode providedwith a chamber intermediate its extrmities and ducts communicating with said chamber For the entrance and exit of gas, a stem movable in the inlet duct and having a valve located in said chamber and a spring actin on the stem to normally close the inletgduct.

4. A spark lug comprising a shell, a ballie on said sli el1 and having an aperture therein, an electrode also on said shell and overhanging said aperture, a second electrode ositioned in said aperture, a chainber within said shell and connecting with the aperture, said second electrode having a passage therethrough connecting said chamber withthe atmosphere, a valve in said passage, a stem on said valve, and yieldable means connected With said stem to retain the valve in its seat normally, said yieldable means being adapted to be operated by the strong suction o an engine on which the plug is used when the engine is idling but inoperable by the weak suction produced in the engine when the throttle is first o ened.

5. In a spark plug having electro es arranged to provide a spark gap therebetween, a chamber within said lug, one electrode havin a passage theret rough adapted to establish communication between the atmosphere and said chamber, this electrode being relatively stationary with the body of P the plug when the parts are assembled, a

seat in the passage through the electrode, a stem movable insaid passage'and having a valve member adapted to engage said seat, and .yieldable means connected with saidvstem tonormallyretain said valve in said seat,'said yieldable means bein of such lcliaractei-.Ias to ermit the said va ve to be vopened automatically by the engine suction when' the plug is in use, Vand adjustable means toadapt theplugto engines of vary- Amg suction, and locatedat the outer lextremity ofthe lug Where .itisexposed for pur. poses of' a ustment and removed from the eat of the engine.v 6. A spark lug having electrodes .arranged to provide a spark gap therebetween vand having a chamber at its inner extremity in communication with said gap, one electrode being composed of two separable parts, one part having a longitudinal as- .sage communicating with the atmosp ere yadapted.to'engage said seat, the said pas- *sage'lbeing Y large enough to allow uid to,

" 'therethroughparound the stem, yieldo neeepee able means 'connected' with seid stem to retein said vvalve normally in its seat, the two part electrode havin a. chamber hetween its two members an in which cham- 5 bei' the said Valve is adapted to move, the

lest named electrode having` ducts in communication with seid electrode chamber whereby Enid entering the chamber is di.-

recteul to the outer surfer/e of the electrode and finally enters the rst named chamber, the yieldable Ineens being adjustable and also of such character as to permit the valve to open automatically in response to the en ine suction when the Valve is in use.

n testimon whereof aiix my signature.

REDERECK E. GLAZE. 

